Humans frequently cry, and a wide range of emotions can make us do so. Yet, why do people cry?
Researchers have discovered that weeping has health benefits for both the body and the mind, benefits that start with a baby’s first scream at birth. To find out more about how crying is good for your health, keep reading.
1. Cleanses the body
Tears come in three different varieties:
- Reflex tears clears your eyes from dust and smoke . Your eyes are kept lubricated and protected from infection by constant tears. Tears of emotion could be really healthy for you. Emotional tears contain stress hormones and other poisons, whereas continuous tears are 98 percent water. Further research is needed, but it has been hypothesized that crying helps your body get rid of these items.
2. Aids in self-soothing
One of your finest coping methods may be crying. Researchers have discovered that sobbing causes the parasympathetic nervous system to be activated (PNS). The PNS aids digestion and sleep for your body. Yet the advantages take time to materialize. Before you experience the calming effects of weeping, it might take a few minutes of crying.
3. A dull ache
Endogenous opioids, also referred to as endorphins, and oxytocin are released when you cry for a long time. These feel-good substances can lessen pain on both an emotional and physical level. Your body may enter a state of mild numbness once the endorphins have been produced. You may experience peace or happiness after consuming oxytocin. It’s yet another illustration of how sobbing may be used to soothe oneself.
4. Enhances mood
Crying, and more especially weeping, can help you manage your discomfort and even boost your mood. You inhale a lot of fast, chilly breaths while you cry. Cooler air can assist regulate and even bring down your brain’s temperature. Your body and mind will enjoy a cold brain more than a warm one. As a result, following a round of crying, your mood can get better.
5. Encourages support
Crying is a good method to let those close to you know that you need assistance when you’re feeling down. This is referred to as an interpersonal advantage. Reliable Source. Your sobbing has been an attachment habit since you were a newborn. Its purpose is to receive comfort and compassion from others in a variety of ways. To put it another way, having a strong social support system is beneficial when times are rough.
6. Aids in your sorrow recovery
Grieving takes time. There are times of grief, apathy, remorse, and rage. During times of mourning, crying is very crucial. It might even aid you in processing and accepting the death of a loved one.
Everyone experiences grief in their own unique way. If you notice that your crying has become excessive or is interfering with your daily life, you should consult your doctor.
7. Restores emotional equilibrium
Crying does not always occur in response to something sad. When you are extremely happy, scared, or stressed, you may cry. Yale University researchers believe that crying in this manner can help to restore emotional balance. When you cry because you are extremely happy or scared about something, it may be your body’s way of recovering from such a strong emotion.
8. Aids in the breathing of the baby
The first cry a baby makes outside of the womb is crucial. The umbilical cord provides oxygen to babies inside the womb. When a baby is born, he or she must begin breathing on their own. The first cry is what helps a baby’s lungs adjust to life outside the womb.
Crying also helps babies clear out any extra fluid in the lungs, nose, and mouth.
9. Aids in baby’s sleep
Crying may also assist babies in sleeping better at night. In a small study of infant sleep, 43 mothers used graduated extinction, also known as controlled crying, to put their babies to sleep. Babies were left to cry for a predetermined number of minutes before their parents intervened. The crying lengthened the infants’ sleep and reduced the number of times they awoke during the night. The crying did not appear to increase stress in the infants or harm the parent-child bond a year later.
When should you seek assistance?
It is normal and healthy to cry in response to something that makes you happy or sad. If you feel the need to release, don’t be afraid to cry. However, excessive crying is something you should discuss with your doctor. Crying that interferes with your daily activities could be a sign of depression.
Other depression symptoms include:
- feelings of despondency or hopelessness
- feelings of annoyance or frustration
- changes in appetite or weight loss or gain lack of energy difficulty sleeping or sleeping excessively unexplained
- aches and pains
- Suicidal or death-related thoughts
If you have suicidal thoughts, contact your local emergency services. You can also call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 if you live in the United States.
How many tears should you shed?
Tilburg University researchers examined crying under the microscope. What were the outcomes? American women cry 3.5 times per month on average, while American men cry about 1.9 times per month. The averages vary greatly by country. America’s average is on the higher end of the scale. Women in China, for example, cry approximately 1.4 times per month. According to reports, men in Bulgaria cry only 0.3 times per month.
Takeaway
It is appropriate to cry. It might even be advantageous to you. If you feel the need to cry, don’t hold them back. Tears are a natural and healthy way of expressing emotion.